Chrysanthemum plant named Quincy

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Quincy particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 114 to 124 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 51 to 59 days; plant height with 0 to 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 23 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; branching pattern is semi-spreading, each plant having 3 to 4 laterals after pinch; and recommended as disbud pot mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, referredto by the cultivar name Quincy.

Quincy, identified as 5141 (88-121006), was originated from a cross madeby Cornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program in Salinas,Calif., in 1986.

The female parent of Quincy was an unnamed seedling identified as 5211(82-404009), and described as a yellow disbud daisy pot mum with aflowering response of 53 to 59 days under normal conditions in Salinas,Calif.; plant height of 23 to 28 cm with 15 to 16 long days aftersticking unrooted cuttings prior to start of short days and with one totwo applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP when grown as a pinched pot mum;branching habit of 3 to 5 laterals developing after pinch; and diameterof capitulum of 133 to 149 mm. The female parent was discarded from allprograms on May 28, 1992.

The male parent of Quincy was an unnamed seedling, identified as 5502(83-436012) and described as a white flat disbud daisy pot mum with aflowering response to short days of 50 to 59 days under normalconditions in Salinas, Calif.; plant height of 28 to 33 cm with 15 to 16long days after sticking unrooted cuttings prior to start of short daysand 1 to 3 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP when grown as a pinched potmum; branching habit of 3 to 5 laterals developing after pinch; anddiameter of capitulum of 114 to 127 mm.

Quincy was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in October 1988,in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Quincy was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in December1988 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by techniciansworking under supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Quincy are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Quincy has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Quincy, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Yellow ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 114 to 124 mm when fully opened,when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum.

5. Photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 51 to 59 days.

6. Plant height with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrootedcuttings, and with 0 to 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranging from23 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cmpot.

7. Branching pattern is semi-spreading, each plant having 3 to 4laterals after pinch.

8. Recommended as disbud pot mum.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Quincy, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a top perspective color photograph of Quincy grown as apinched disbudded pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Quincy.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Quincy at 3 stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature). In sheets 2 and 3 a measuring tape incentimeters has been added.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Quincy is the cultivar Miramar, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,469. Reference is made to attached Chart A, which comparescertain characteristics of Quincy to the same characteristics ofMiramar.

Similar traits are capitulum form, diameter of capitulum, floweringresponse to short days, plant height, semi-spreading branching patternand recommendation as a disbudded pot mum. The ray floret color of bothQuincy and Miramar is described as yellow. However, ray floret color ofQuincy is significantly lighter than the intense deep yellow ray floretcolor of Miramar. Quincy has a daisy capitulum type, while Miramar has aspooned daisy capitulum type. In comparison to Miramar, Quincy has anaverage of one lateral per plant less developing after pinch thanMiramar.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum in Salinas, Calif.on Mar. 25, 1992.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Quincy.

Commercial.--Daisy disbud mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--114 to 124 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Yellow.

Color (upper surface).--3A.

Color (under surface).--5C.

Shape of petals.--Straight, pointed, slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14B.

Color (immature).--144A to 144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--23 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot with15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings and 0 to 1applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Semi-spreading, with 3 to 4 laterals after pinch.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--See photograph.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF QUINCY AND MIRAMAR                                              CULTIVAR     QUINCY        MIRAMAR                                            ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                           Yellow        Yellow                                             Capitulum form and                                                                         Flat          Flat                                               type         Daisy         Spooned daisy                                      Diameter across                                                                            114 to 124 mm 114 to 127 mm                                      face of capitulum                                                             Flowering response                                                                         51 to 59 days 53 to 58 days                                      Plant height with                                                                          23 to 28 cm   23 to 28 cm                                        15 to 16 long days                                                            Branching pattern                                                                          Semi-spreading                                                                              Semi-spreading                                                  3 to 4 laterals                                                                             4 to 5 laterals                                    Recommended as                                                                             Disbud pot mum                                                                              Disbud pot mum                                     COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           PINCHED DISBUDDED POT MUMS IN                                                 SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                                           ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Quincy, asdescribed and illustrated.